On March 9, 2011, Alberta Acts brought the Green Energy Tour to Drayton Valley.

Along with Erin Welk, Policy & Technical Analyst with Sustainable Communities at the Pembina Institute, we met with members of Town Council and Brazeau County Council in a joint session for presentations to both groups. The presentation focused on tangible local options for reducing energy use and using energy more sustainably. Joining the sessions for both councils offered a fantastic opportunity to think about their options regionally and to begin a conversation among the leadership for the area.

On the following day, Alberta Acts and our Green Energy Tour took part in the Town's Green Energy Conference, where the eloquent and evocative slogan was: "For the past 50 years, energy has defined Drayton Valley. For the next 50 years, Drayton Valley will define energy." Building around the Green Energy Tour, organizers brought in a great lineup of experts in the field with practical know-how in renewable energy generation and greening energy use in the home. Thanks in large measure to the hard work of local organizers, over 70 people attended the conference at Drayton's fantastic MacKenzie Conference Centre.

The presentations led to vibrant and substantive discussions among the local participants in the Drayton tour stop, with exciting, local ideas for a vibrant and sustainable Drayton Valley region. It is clear from general public reaction that people in the area are excited about Drayton's forward thinking and vision for a sustainable community.

In the evening, we had the opportunity to talk with some motivated and inspired young people from the area who are interested in pursuing trades work in renewable energy and energy efficiency building and learning how to run their own homes in a sustainable manner with respect to energy.

Presentation Slides

The Green Energy Tour's council presentation from March 9, 2011, is available here.

Erin Welk's council presentation from March 9, 2011, is available here.

The Green Energy Tour's presentation at Drayton Valley's Green Energy Conference on March 10, 2011, is available here.

Thank you Drayton Valley!

Thanks to Drayton Valley for the great reception and the interesting experience. Drayton Valley is a welcoming and charming town that deserves to be proud of its efforts in taking ownership of its energy identity and building that identity toward a sustainable future economy.

We owe a big thank you to Bev Broks for her accommodations. We also really appreciate all of the organizers for putting together such a hitch-free and successful event. We owe a special thank you to Nicole Zablotski, Patti Piironen, and Annette Driessen for their hard work and fantastic hospitality during our visit. Perhaps most of all, Tanya Rumak deserves a standing ovation for her efficient and professional work, always carried out with kindness and a smile.

Thanks!